5/17/06 Wednesday: Pickle Branch Shelter to Campbell Shelter

I was up and out by 0715 again, leaving Yoshi behind... We had two opportunities to stop into Catawba variety stores today. I decided to take the first of the two, a .4mi road walk at about 1030 off VA624 onto VA311. As I was approaching VA624, wouldnt ya know it...more Trail Majic... a cooler loaded with all sorts of drinks, peanut butter sandwiches and baked squares, and an assortment of snacks. I samples a peanut butter square and grabbed a Pepsi and a snickers, jotted a thankyou down in the kind persons journal and left for the convenience store satisfied with my appetizers. Im always like a kid in a candy store when I walk into a convenience store off the trail. This time I didnt have any hot dinners for my tonight, having had two last night as I was killing time at the last shelter having arrived there at 1500. I picked up the common hikers trail food Lipton/Knorr rice sides and some tuna in a foil packet. I went to the counter and ordered two 1/4lb cheeseburgers with everything, picked up a 20oz Doctor Pepper and $10.00 later I was outside sitting enjoying my wonderful cheeseburgers with fresh tomato, onions, and lettuce. I had to run back in to compliment the chef before I left... I was moving a bit slowly after downing those two burgers but soon enough I digested them and felt energized for the rest of the day... At 1300, 6miles later I arrived at the second opportunity of the day to head to a convenience store... But still felt quite satisfied from my first stop and with the one mile walk down a steep road into town decided against it. I tried to make a few calls instead. Earlier at the store I tried to call Jackie but couldnt get a good signal. Here, I a had a real good connection, so I chatted with Jackie and my Mom for a while...I moved to the Johns Springs Shelter just in time to get out of an afternoon shower. Spent some time at McAfee Knob (WOW) with pics and plenty of sun before finally arriving at the Camnpbell Shelter for the night...

PICTURES:
1. More variety of wildflower...looks a bit like an iris..
2. Views from the Dragons Tooth Peak
3. Getting back on the trail after my two cheeseburgers... thank God the walk was pretty easy for a while allowing me time to digest...
4. Met this gentleman from New Jersey section hiking south...enjoying the day...
5. More assorted lovely wild flowers near Catawba, always brighten my day...
6. Doubleclick to notice the inscription here... An eagle scout project by a local group which included a number of these bridges across rock faces...much needed especially when wet.
7. Ohhhhh, I've dreamed about this shot for some time...McAfee Knob... all I can say is Breathtaking!!! The most photographed site on the AT. I used the tripod with a 10 sec timer and ran around in time for the pic...No one else around at the time...Perfect weather too..
8. This is just a part of what I was looking at from the Knob... You just have to experience this one for yourself... The camera does not do it justice...
9.Later that evening it started to hail...I was able to capture the hail bouncing off the deck.